U.S. Philips Corporation

Gunter Weick

Johannes W Faber

Lothar Windolf

A 001 conference circuit for a digital communication system in which the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters of at least two subscriber terminal stations have different bandwidth of their processable analog signals or in the code format of the digital signals or in the bit rate of the digital signals. It is not necessary for any conference participant to adapt to the equipment of any one of the other participants because the conference circuit comprises transcoders and corresponding transdecoders of different construction for each conference participant. This anoids the requirement that all conference participants must agree on the same bandwidth, the same code and the same bit rate. When establishing a conference connection, a control circuit actuates the appropriate transcoder and the corresponding transdecoder required for each conference participant. Each conference participant receives signals from the other participants during the conference, having the same quality as in the case of a connection between only two participants.

Conference circuit for a digital communication system

A switch for making and breaking optical connections of optical fibers, by connecting one fiber to another fiber of a group of fibers. The coupling of fibers is realized in a V-groove in a first holder. The switch comprises two holders, each of which comprises a gear ring. These rings are made to engage by means of a helical spring. The first holder accommodates several fibers which are equidistantly distributed over its circumference. A coupling between two fibers is broken by pulling the holders apart (against the force of the spring). By subsequently rotating the holders and moving the holders towards each other again, a coupling between the fiber on the second holder and a further fiber on the first holder is realized. The second holder comprises a positioning ring which provides coarse orientation of the holders with respect to each other. The two gear rings provide exact final positioning of the holders.

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Eckental, Germany

Gunter Weick